The Best Ski Resorts for Beginners

Standing a-top the mountain taking in the spectacular views, breathing in the fresh, alpine air and watching people zoom by on skis and snowboards, it is easy for beginners to get ahead of themselves. They may not have all the necessary skills just yet, but they can already envision themselves speeding down the mountain like Lindsay Vonn or Bode Miller.

If you’re planning a ski holiday with beginners soon, play it safe by choosing a resort that is appropriate for novice levels. This way, no matter how cocky your novice skier, you can rest assured they won’t risk injury by heading out onto an adventurous slope.

Here is the best selection of ski resorts most suitable for beginners:

If you’re looking for a ski-resort that offers that little bit extra, you can’t go wrong with Avoriaz. Travelling with beginners means having to count on the fact that they may not be as excited about skiing as you – especially younger skiers, who quickly lose motivation when they don’t feel they are advancing and would much rather fly down the slopes with their older siblings and friends.

Avoriaz, located in the heart of Portes du Soleil, is equipped with ample green and blue runs as well as nursery slopes and snow parks. And should your novice skiers want a break from the slopes for a day or two, there are plenty of other activities for them to enjoy such as the Aquariaz water park.

Going on a winter-sports holiday is about more than just skiing, sledging and après ski parties – you’ll want a beautiful, idyllic setting too, and Lech offers just that. This traditional farming village in the Austrian mountains is one of the most popular resorts in the area and open to all levels of skiers.

Beginners will find great nursery slopes in Lech and Oberlech, and plenty of other activities to immerse themselves in. This resort comes equipped with a leisure center featuring a sauna, gym and climbing wall, lots of great restaurants and shops and indoor tennis and squash courts. For the ultimate experience, you can explore the resort on a horse drawn sleigh whilst overlooking the twinkling lights illuminating this stunning mountain valley.

With more than 425 km to cover at La Plagne, you can rest assured that your whole group of skiers will get plenty of time on the slopes. It may not be the most impressive resort in terms of style and architecture, but if all you’re looking for is an adventurous winter-sport holiday, that shouldn’t matter too much.

There are various blues and greens for beginners and intermediates to choose from, making this resort an inclusive skiing destination for all levels. If you choose to rent a chalet with VIP SKI, you’ll be happy to know that the button lift leading up to the nursery slopes can be seen from your window, so you can always keep an eye out on your youngest, most novice skiers.

Morzine is a picturesque market town in Portes du Soleil and is as attractive in the summer as it is in the winter. Only a two-hour drive from Geneva, the Morzine ski resort combines the best of two worlds – alpine magic and sight-seeing in one of Switzerland’s most popular cities.

Whether you’re travelling with absolute beginners or those who’ve already tried themselves on the nursery slopes, this ski resort is the ideal place to learn or hone the skills needed to brave one of the more advanced slopes. One nursery slope is located directly across from the Morzine ski schools, making it the ideal starting point for those who still have a lot of practicing to do. Once beginners feel more confident, they can move up to the green slope situated atop the Pleney bubble.

Skiing and winter-sports in general are deeply rooted in Austrian culture, hence St. Anton is equipped with everything you might need to enjoy an active, traditional skiing holiday.

While it is known as one of the most beloved resorts for advanced skiers, it also offers plenty of slopes for beginners, such as the nursery slope in Nasserein, and several shorter runs and a teaching-zone in Gampen. Skiing may be the main purpose of your holiday, but once you familiarize yourself with all the typical mountain restaurants – such as the Krazy Kangaruh or the Heustadl – you might feel like swapping your skies for delicious Austrian cuisine and local Schnapps to get your cheeks glowing.

As the oldest ski resort in France, the mountain village Alpe d’Huez has a rich history which beckons to be explored during your winter-sport holiday.

This is an excellent resort for skiers of all levels which provides plenty of off-slope activities too, including an ice rink, a modern sports center featuring a climbing wall, and two swimming pools. Here, you’ll get to immerse yourself in all the glitz and glamour the après ski culture is known for, and enjoy a breathtaking, Instagram-worthy environment. Featuring a large network of green runs, Alpe d’Huez is a great place for beginners to practice and build their confidence before hitting the intermediate slopes.

If you are planning a beginners ski holiday check out our advice on ski schools, equipment hire and when to go, then give the VIP SKI team a call. Lottie, Libby, Jonnie, Andy, Katie and Lou are ready and waiting to answer all your questions and find you the perfect beginner ski holiday.